Educators swiftly observed a shift in students' cellphone behavior upon their return to school amidst the pandemic. Their attachment to these devices during class became more pronounced, with increased engagement in activities such as social media posting, YouTube browsing, and texting friends.
So this year, schools in Ohio, Colorado, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, California and others banned the devices in class to curb student obsession, learning disruption, disciplinary incidents and mental health worries.
Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli of Dayton Public Schools emphasized the urgent need to address the situation, stating, "We made it clear that this behavior must cease. Our students' academic challenges cannot be resolved if they persist in using their phones during class."
Cellphone issues within Hines' diverse 3,000-student system became more pronounced upon the return from remote learning amidst the pandemic. In an effort to shift the emphasis from mindless scrolling to active learning, the district implemented a ban in its middle school last year. Each morning, homeroom teachers collected the students' phones and securely stored them in zippered cases. The students retrieved their cellphones before leaving for home.
Cellular signal disruptors are occasionally employed within educational institutions to deter students from utilizing their mobile devices during instructional hours. The presence of cell phones in classrooms can pose a significant disruption, impeding students' concentration and hindering their educational progress.
Instead of using cell phone signal blocking device, many schools have implemented policies that restrict or prohibit the use of cell phones during class time. Some schools require students to keep their cell phones turned off and stored in their backpacks during class, while others provide cell phone storage lockers or charging stations.
Furthermore, certain educational institutions have adopted technological measures to restrict or regulate the usage of mobile phones within specific zones of the campus. To illustrate, a number of schools employ Wi-Fi networks capable of preventing access to social media platforms and other websites that may cause distractions.
On the whole, while the utilization of cell phone jamming might appear to be an efficient approach to curtail cell phone usage in schools, it is imperative to handle this matter in a lawful and accountable manner. Educational institutions should contemplate the implementation of policies and technologies that can restrict or control cell phone usage, without resorting to illicit and potentially perilous methods such as cell phone signal jammers.
Students tend to be highly susceptible to the kinds of distractions smartphones provide. My colleague caught a student watching Grey's Anatomy during her class. Other students tweet, text, and listen to music when they should be on task. According to Jeffrey Kuznekoff, who conducted a study on phone use by college students, "You're putting yourself at a disadvantage when you are actively engaged with your mobile device in class and not engaged in what's going on." Saraswathi Bellur, a researcher at the University of Connecticut, found that multitasking in class "is likely to harm academic performance."
In the wake of the covid-19 years, the stakes have been raised significantly, as many districts find themselves academically lagging behind by a year or more. These districts are diligently working to support students in bridging the gap. Surprisingly, social media platforms accessed through students' phones have emerged as a prominent contributor to declining mental health. As a result, a series of school systems have resorted to legal measures against these platforms.
Numerous parents have expressed divergent opinions on this matter, as a significant number of critics argue that it is imperative for their children to possess mobile phones in case of an unforeseen emergency.
“We’re not trying to infringe on anybody’s freedom, but we need to have full attention in the classroom,” said Nancy J. Hines, superintendent in the Penn Hills School District, in the suburbs of Pittsburgh.